LCN Community Organizing Global Workshop

We are standing at a crossroads. Every day brings reminders of crisis—whether it’s floods washing away homes, workers fighting for dignity, or entire communities resisting violence. But history reminds us of something powerful: moments of crisis have always also been moments of transformation.

The headlines may be full of conflict and collapse, but beneath the surface something else is stirring: people across the globe are coming together, telling new stories, and building the power we need to win justice. This workshop is an invitation to be part of that work—because the future we want will only happen if we create it.

Join LCN’s Full Community Organizing Global Workshop this November! The workshop will take place over two weekends—November 8–9 and 15–16, 2025—and will be held entirely online, so you can join from wherever you are in the world! 

[Applications are now open, and we invite you to apply to be part of this year’s cohort]

This workshop is more than theory—it’s about learning by doing. Grounded in the People, Power, Change framework developed by Marshall Ganz and LCN practitioners, this workshop offers a practical dive into how to cultivate collective agency and grow people power to build and scale campaigns and institutions.

You’ll practice the five core leadership practices of community organizing:

1. Public Narrative & Storytelling – using stories to move others to act
2. Building Relationships – creating trust and commitment
3. Structuring Leadership Teams – developing shared leadership and accountability
4. Strategizing – turning resources and hope into winning action
5. Action – mobilizing people to make change together

You’ll also take part in a Coaching module, where you’ll learn how to unlock the agency of others—supporting changemakers as they tackle challenges of the head, heart, and hands.

Whether you’re part of a grassroots campaign, nonprofit, union, advocacy group, or social movement, this workshop is built for you. It’s designed to give you and your team the skills and structure to turn energy into effective action.

If you’re applying as an individual leader, you’re welcome too. Priority will be given to teams of 5–6 participants applying together, since organizing is always stronger when practiced in community.

This is a highly interactive, practice-based workshop. You’ll work in small teams alongside a skilled Community Organizing coach, with a 6-to-1 participant-to-coach ratio. Breakout sessions give you the chance to practice, experiment, and learn from peers, while receiving real-time feedback that sharpens your skills.

Learning is grounded in real organizing work. Participants bring campaigns they’re already leading—or ideas they want to kickstart—so everything you practice connects directly to challenges and opportunities you care about. Whether you’re new to organizing or bringing years of experience, you’ll leave with tools you can use right away.

And because learning happens best when it’s relational, this workshop is also dynamic, collaborative, and energizing.

The workshop will take place over four full training days, each running approximately six hours on Zoom.

• Day 1: Saturday, November 8, 2025 – Introduction to Organizing, Public Narrative, and Story of Self
• Day 2: Sunday, November 9, 2025 – Building Relationships, Leadership Teams, and Strategy (Part 1)
• Day 3: Saturday, November 15, 2025 – Story of Us, Strategy (Part 2), and Structure
• Day 4: Sunday, November 16, 2025 – Action, Story of Now, and Celebration

To make the workshop accessible across regions, we are offering participants the opportunity to indicate their preferred time zone. Please share your preference(s) in the application form. We will finalize one schedule that accommodates the majority and share it with all applicants.

Full participation in all four days is required to be considered for this program.

This workshop is being led by Sadie Dean as the lead trainer and Amna Tufail as the coordinator. We’re grateful to have a wonderfully rich and experienced community, with many seasoned coaches and trainers joining us for the workshop. We’re also excited to share that Marshall Ganz will be joining as a guest lecturer, along with other incredible folks. Stay tuned to our website for updates about the full teaching team!

Sadie Dean (she/her) is a Southern-born movement strategist, leadership coach, and racial justice organizer who’s spent the past decade building power with communities on the frontlines of systemic injustice. Raised in Tampa Bay, Sadie co-founded the Restorative Justice Coalition to confront anti-Black violence in the criminal legal system and create pathways for healing and care. Her work blends campaign strategy, political education, and restorative practice—always rooted in the belief that movements thrive when they are led with clarity, reflection, and collective courage. She’s coached over 350 leaders, launched 50+ grassroots campaigns, and served in leadership roles at organizations like Color Of Change and Black Feminist Future. Currently, she coaches global changemakers through Harvard Kennedy School’s Executive Education program, supporting them to lead with purpose, power, and imagination.

For 60+ years, Marshall Ganz has shaped movements from the American civil rights movement to organizing farm workers with Cesar Chavez. As a professor at Harvard Kennedy School for the last 20+ years, his teaching and scholarship on Community Organizing and Public Narrative continues to shape the practice of civic and political leadership across the world today. Learn more about Professor Marshall Ganz and his impactful work: https://scholar.harvard.edu/marshallganz

Stay tuned to learn more about the rest of the trainers & coaches team!

The deadline to submit your application is October 21st, 2025. We will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis and will be in touch with applicants as we move through the process. 

This workshop is offered at subsidized rates in order to make it accessible to organizers across diverse contexts. There are four fee options available:

• Organizational Sponsorship: My organization will sponsor the full tuition cost of $1200

• Individual Contribution: I can contribute the individual tuition cost of $1000

• Scholarship Option: I would like to apply for a 50% scholarship and pay $600

• Team Applications: We are applying as a team of 5–6 participants for a total of $4000

Please indicate your preferred option in the application form. Very limited subsidized seats are available, with priority given to member organizations in underserved regions.

Please note that selection priority will also be given to groups of 5–6 participants applying as a team.

This workshop is open to LCN members only. If you’re not yet a member, you can still join us. If cost is a barrier, we offer scholarships for different LCN membership options. Become a Leading Change member today.

For any questions, feel free to reach out to Leading Change Academy Coordinator Tufail at amna@leadingchangenetwork.org